Fw: NS and BNSF Railway to Test New Train Brake Technology

[NW Mailing List]

Upon reading Hairy's (aka Harry's)account of this collision, I remembered some color slides that I had made the day following the accident, so I scanned the four that I have attached.

In Montvale0004, note the spectators near the derailment and speculate whether the NS would allow that today.  Of course, the people may have been just off the railroad's right-of-way.  Also note the dramatic overhang of the rear of the 250-ton derrick when it was swiveled to pick up a load off to the side of the track.  Counterweights in the overhang served to partially balance the pull of the load on the derrick's boom.

Gordon Hamilton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 4:43 PM
  Subject: Re: Fw: NS and BNSF Railway to Test New Train Brake Technology


  Re.  the"hairy" situation when the train line is blocked -- on 
  March 6, 1965, Extra 1011 East, No. 92's symbol, left Roanoke
  with no air behind the trailing unit, Eng 3473, a former Wabash
  GP-7.  After topping Blue Ridge, the head end crew became
  aware that they didn't have brakes.  Extra 1011 East collided
  with Extra  696 West entering the double track east of
  Montvale.

  Brake test ?  There was a problem getting a brake test.   But
  while the car inspector on the caboose was watching the 
  meter, the car inspector on the head end was looking for the
  problem and manipulated the angle cock, which caused a
  brake pipe fluctuation.  The cause  ?  Engine 3473's brake
  system was arranged so that when the angle cock was cross-
  ways the brake pipe, air flowed through the train line.
  Apparently the Wabash had a different way of doing things.

  The ICC's Report No. 4051 covering the incident has not yet
  been posted to the DOT web site.  The transcript on N&W's
  investigation is 281 pages.  Brakeman C.C. Cook ALMOST became
  a hero.  He went through the units tripping the emergency
  brake valves, then had a premonition that the problem was on
  Eng 3473.  As the train rolled toward Montvale at 60 MPH, he
  got on the footboard and parted the hoses and the train went
  into emergency -- but not soon enough.  

  Mr. Neikirk asked: "What did you do after this emergency 
  occurred ?"

  Mr. Cook responded ". . . .I started talking to myself.  I said,
  'Boy, if you are going to do anything you better be doing it.'  
  As soon as the headlight (of Extra 696) disappeared, I don't 
  know whether he was entering the westbound track or
  whether we was that close to him - - - -    I CALMLY STEPPED
  OFF." 
                                                            Hairy Bundy





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